Three Cent Coins

U.S. Three Cent Pieces (often referred as "Trimes") came into being first as small (14.3mm) 75% silver billon coins in 1851. This first Longacre design is known generally as the Silver Trime and it was minted until 1873, however, in 1865 after Mint Director James Pollock succeeded in getting the authorization for minting nickel coins of that denomination, the first nickel Trime was struck with Longacre's Liberty Head Wreathed III design. This design was minted from 1865 until 1889, overlapping the mintage dates of the Silver Trime.